Collapsible type zoom camera
US5715482A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B17/04
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A miniaturized collapsible zoom camera changes viewfinder magnification in accordance with a change in the photographic magnification. The camera is equipped with a collapsible cam tube to cause a first lens group, which rotates around the optical axis, to move from a collapsed position to a position just before a minimum magnification position. Likewise, a zoom cam tube causes the first lens group, which rotates around the optical axis, to move from the minimum magnification position to a maximum magnification position. Sector gears are formed on the outer circumference of the collapsible cam tube and the zoom cam tube. Furthermore, the camera is equipped with a cam tube drive gear which cooperates with the sector gears. A drive motor causes the drive gear to rotate. Another gear cooperates only with the sector gear of the zoom cam tube while a variable power and movement mechanism causes variable power operation in the viewfinder.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.